Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Jeremiah 1:19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Deuteronomy 20:4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

1 Chronicles 16:31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"

Deuteronomy 3:24 "O Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?

Celebrated our anniversary last night with a little Copelands. We sat next to a couple that was so rude it almost spoiled the night. demanding drinks be returned, speaking with degrading condescension. So I added a couple of dollars to the tip. Grace or codependancy... I'm not sure.

He posted a couple of videos from Army orientation. Pretty crazy stuff!

Finishing up the day at work and ready to celebrate anniversary in a bit. 30 years and time passes on.

Quote I love: "I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn." Anne Frank

I am daily releasing my children to the Lord. I can't change them. We contribute to our children, speak into their lives but trying to control them make a madman of the controler and the controlee. This is today's insight. (So there)

Oh, bless our God, you peoples!And make the voice of His praise to be heard,Who keeps our soul among the living,And does not allow our feet to be moved.

Oh, the beautiful groundedness of the Father that causes us to remain in the center of His will! Not out of our own righteousness but just because he is the One who shepherds. It is a glorious renewing day by day to trust in Our God who places us and causes us to remain.

Uncertainty is certain but one thing remains: our desire for wonder. Wonder is imbedded in the core of our soul. Very few seek a boring life, with so-so relationships, a mediocre romance and a take-it-or-leave-it career. We yearn for wonder. But how do we get wonder? Is wonder something we can capture like a trout at the end of a fly reel? Is wonder a formula? Is it a myth like the legends of Middle Earth, Sasquatch, or honest politics?

Time and time again in the Bible we get a view of wonder- how to lose it and how to seize it today. We see heroes who struggle- just like us. We see ordinary people who doubt- just like we do. And we see God compelling them to be all they never thought they could be. It all begins with preparation.

Chances are, this season of your life is all about preparing you for the next season of life. If you are anything like me and my church, you have big dreams and little budgets. Like a slingshot, you are being stretched to the limit in order to propel you into all the other phases of your life. This stretching time can determine your career, your lifelong friends, your financial future and ultimately, your spiritual direction. (No pressure.) While so many celebrate with a series of mind-numbing parties and shallow, surface-thin relationships based on all the wrong things, God wants to lead you through the threshold of wonder, bliss and amazement that will last for eternity.

In order to experience the wonder of this amazing walk with Jesus, make a few commitments:

· to not win arguments· to love the people nobody seems to be loving· to connect on a deeper level with my friends· to be honest in your conversations· to treat yourself like Jesus treats you· to leave people alone when they want to be left alone· to not “fix” your family· to laugh more· to dream more· to give more· to treasure sleep· to weep without shame· to rest when you’re tired· to celebrate the accomplishments of others· to live wholeheartedly· to never judge· to always love· to be present· to be available· to put people above agendas· to live in a perpetual state of gratitude

Jesus tells a story about a guy who finds an amazing buried treasure and then sells everything he has so that he can have the legal rights to this secret trove. Can’t you just hear his friends, family and neighbors? They didn’t know about the treasure. Can you hear them gossiping about his foolishness in selling his home, boat, donkey, family heirlooms, his shoes, pottery collection, tickets to the games in Rome…everything! I can just see him with a mischievous grin as he hears them mock and sees the smirks. He takes all this abuse because he knows something they don’t. He prepares to sell it all and get so much more in return. This is a metaphor about consecration. He goes on a huge sell-off in order to get that pearl- the prize of his life.

What will you choose?

Here are Six Ways to Choose Wonder

1. Seek out private worship. Having a daily time of worship and Bible reading places you in the zone of the supernatural. Shoot for seven days a week but hit at least five. See what God begins to show you.2. Connect with one other person who is in agreement with you to follow God and seek Him daily. Meet once a week with that friend.3. Make a difference in one person’s life. Pastor Andy Stanley says it like this: Do for one person what you wish you could do for everybody.4. Set boundaries on frivolous spending and activities that disrupt your spiritual journey.5. Give up trying to control people. Simply love them and work on yourself. It’s amazing what happens when we allow people to experience the consequences of their actions. Instead of trying to fix people, just love them and let them see you live with integrity.

Look for God’s hand and you’ll be amazed! There are miracles and unexplained mysteries all around us. Once you find them, you’ll bolster your faith to ask God for big things